We've updated our Safety Assessment Principles (SAPs) and welcome your feedback to support our vision to be a modern, agile and productive regulator enabling innovation and growth.
A consultation document is also available, offering further details to support your response.
The SAPs provide our inspectors with a framework for making consistent regulatory judgements on nuclear safety cases.
To continue delivering world‑class nuclear regulation, we are committed to maintaining a regulatory framework that is clear, modern and responsive to a rapidly evolving sector.
The 2026 update of the SAPs strengthens this commitment by aligning our expectations with current legislation, international standards and developments in technology and industry practice.
We are seeking our stakeholders input to ensure the updated SAPs enable ONR to regulate proportionately as the UK’s nuclear sector develops and innovates.
Colin Tait, our Deputy Director for Capability and Standards, and Jonathan Downing, Principal Nuclear Safety Inspector and project lead, explain the importance of the 2026 SAPs update and why your feedback matters.
How to respond
The easiest way to share your feedback is through our online form.
If you are unable to complete the online form you can still submit comments to onr-saps-review@onr.gov.uk. In your response, we kindly ask that you tailor your feedback to addressing the questions in the consultation document. You can also submit responses in writing to:
ONR Communications
Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
4.S.3. Redgrave Court
Merton Rd
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS
Responses must be received by 18 September 2026. Once the consultation closes we will publish our response.
We aim to publish the final version of the SAPs in December 2026.
Complaints
If you have any complaints about the consultation process (as opposed to comments about the SAPs, which are the subject of the consultation) please address them to:
ONR Communications
Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
4.S.3. Redgrave Court
Merton Rd
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS
Email: onr-saps-review@onr.gov.uk
ONR aims to respond to all complaints in accordance with ONR’s complaints process.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can raise the matter with the Information Commissioner’s Office at:
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Your MP may also ask the independent Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (the Ombudsman) to review your complaint.
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